Things to do in London this weekend
Sweet, sweet weekend! Welcome those precious days off with open arms and fill them with the best things to do in London on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
London is starting to sparkle with Christmas lights, twinkling trees and glistening ice rinks. It’s only November but festive events are popping up all over the city, from Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland to a Rag Rug Wreath-Making Workshop and the Primrose Hill Christmas Fair. Not feeling that Christmas cheer? Check out Soho Horror Film Festival instead. And whatever you do, don’t miss our event of the week Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest – a six-day mix of queer cinema and DIY dance parties in east London. It’s beginning to look a lot like the weekend!
RECOMMENDED: Find more things to do in London this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
What’s on this weekend?
Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest
What is it?
A six-day mix of queer cinema and DIY dance parties in east London.
Why go?
Get involved in this year’s programme – it’s jam-packed with rare films, panels, poetry, parties and workshops.
The one thing you should know?
If you like your queer culture colourful and inclusive, you’ll definitely want this in your diary.
Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland
What is it?
Syon Park’s Enchanted Woodland transforms the 600-year-old gardens with a light display.
Why go?
To see the illuminating interactive lights light up the Great Conservatory, talk the glittering trail and snap pics.
The one thing you should know?
It’s almost always a sell-out so book in advance.
Soho Horror Film Festival
What is it?
Brace yourself for three days of new and obscure blood-curdling horror films.
Why go?
Many of the showings will be a first for the UK, so prepare to watch through fingers.
The one thing you should know?
Halloween’s not over yet.
Winter Craft Show
at this modern take on a craft fair. This is
What is it?
A modern take on a craft fair.
Why go?
Meet local designer-makers, join creative workshops like natural dying and still-life drawing and pick up handmade pieces.
The one thing you should know?
It’s a chance to buy some unique Christmas pressies.
Tits London Pop-Up Shop
What is it?
The breast pop-up shop in London is back championing female designers.
Why go?
Pick up cards, clothing, ceramics and more.
The one thing you should know?
10 percent of all proceeds go toward the CoppaFeel! breast cancer charity.
‘Streetstyle: From Teddy Boys to Grime Kids’
What is it?
Curated by Tory Turk the exhibition is a re-imagination of the V&A’s groundbreaking 1994 exhibition ‘Streetstyle, From Sidewalk to Catwalk’.
Why go?
See portraits of punks, skinheads, ravers and today’s grime fans in this exhibition charting the evolution of subcultures in the UK
The one thing you should know?
There will be rare pieces from the original exhibition including its Skinheads display, Zandra Rhodes’s Conceptual Chic collection from 1977 and more.
Hamish Pearch: ‘Nights’
What is it?
Catch young English artist Hamish Pearch’s show, which is filled with surreal, weird mushroom and toast art.
Why go?
There’s not mush-room for improvement, but you know it’s going to be the shiitake (sorry).
The one thing you should know?
It’s like a psychological trip through the English subconscious.
Tower of London Ice Rink
What is it?
Whizz around the moat of one of London’s most famous landmarks.
Why go?
Visit the fortress by the Thames for skating sessions with epic views of London in a grand historical setting.
The one thing you should know?
There will be food and drink on the sidelines for tired skaters as well as those who just prefer to watch the fun.
Patrick Staff: ‘On Venus’
What is it?
A new exhibition by Patrick Staff.
Why go?
His art is about transformation and gender, but it’s not a celebration. It reveals the brutality of day-to-day queer existence in a crushing society.
The one thing you should know?
It’s art that’ll turn your stomach and change your mind, but it’s damn powerful stuff.
Craft Half Marathon
What is it?
Help Children In Need, get fit and drink beer while you’re at it. Sign up to a half marathon or a 10k with The Craft Half.
Why go?
They ask you to commit to a £150 fundraising target but you’ll get to sip six half-pints over the course of the race to sweeten the deal.
The one thing you should know?
Entry also includes a Craft Half T-shirt, a commemorative pint glass and access to the post-race Halfter Party – you know what they say: begin as you mean to go on.
‘& Juliet’
What is it?
A brand new West End musical is coming to town and it’s bringing the biggest bangers with it.
Why go?
This sublimely OTT night out sees Shakespeare’s Juliet return from the dead and head off on a girls’ trip to Paris.
The one thing you should know?
Expect your pop faves, like ‘Oops!... I Did It Again’ and ‘Since U Been Gone’, but not the versions you know and love.
‘Death of a Salesman’
What is it?
The Young Vic’s Wendell Pierce-led take on the Arthur Miller classic, in the West End.
Why go?
It’s a stunning rework that’s a must-see (and hopefully they’ve fixed the roof, too).
The one thing you should know?
There’ll be beautiful jazz melodies that drift from voice to voice.
Hayman’s Ginema Screenings
What is it?
Hayman’s of London are opening their Balham distillery doors for a gin-themed pop-up cinema
Why go?
Watch top flicks like ‘When Harry met Sally’ and ‘The Greatest Snowman’ while sipping fine gins and getting cosy on giant beanbags.
The one thing you should know?
Tickets include a goody bag, which contains a variety of classic cinema treats, and a £5 voucher towards a distillery tour.
‘Caroline Coon‘
What is it?
Rebellious, precise, erotic paintings by an old-school punk.
Why go?
It’s really rude and seriously in your face, but that just means it’s all the good stuff.
The one thing you should know?
The bigger message is saying that we’re all complicated, fluid beings.
Being Human Festival
What is it?
A nationwide festival that removes academics from classrooms, putting talks, masterclasses and panels into pubs, cafés and public spaces.
Why go?
Explore what it means to be a human in the digital age and presenting a huge variety of arts and humanities research through talks, exhibitions and workshops.
The one thing you should know?
Look out for behind-the-scenes tours.
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